Alcohol & HORMONES
Whether you come to this page as an alcohol drinker or an abstainer, I’m here to give you some facts. What you choose to do with them is entirely up to you.
Research has shown that having a few drinks in moderation probably won’t impact your cycle but people who chronically consume excessive amounts of alcohol are at risk of irregular cycles or losing their menstrual cycle altogether.
Things you need to know about alcohol and your hormones:
Alcohol increases the oxidative stress in our bodies. There will be more inflammation in your body and any inflammation related illnesses you have will be worse. Oxidative stress also includes increased signs of ageing and a change in the integrity of your skin and some people will notice that after a period of increased alcohol consumption they have a break out. Couple this with any hormonal acne you experience and you may notice that your skin is not as clear as usual, you have spots throughout your cycle rather than just ovulation or when your period is due.
Increases estradiol and FSH (follicle stimulating hormone). Estradiol is a form of oestrogen made by the ovaries, higher levels of oestrogen can lead to irregular periods, fatigue, weight gain and fibroids. Long term increased oestrogen has also been known to be related to breast cancer. Women who report Endometriosis symptoms, PCOS and polyps have also been found to have increased oestrogen. If you are one of these ladies you would benefit from tracking your alcohol intake alongside your symptoms to see how you are impacted.
Decreases Progesterone and testosterone. Progesterone is the hormone responsible for thickening the endometrium lining ready for a fertilised egg to implant. With a lower progesterone there can also be resultant irregular periods, irregular bleeding during menstruation, mood fluctuations and even thyroid imbalance. Progesterone is important for sustaining pregnancy. A lower level of progesterone heading into menopause can magnify symptoms too!
Impacts detox pathways which increases the stress on our bodies. Alcohol is detoxed in the liver as are the hormones in our blood. Alcohol is more toxic as your body will identify it as a foreign substance, therefore your liver will prioritise its detoxification. Therefore any excess hormones are excreted far slower than they would be if we abstained from alcohol.
Alcohol will impact your sleep and therefore all of your body’s natural cycles that take place over night (not completely ruining them, but even 1% can make a difference). Check out my Fix Your Sleep for more information about how you can transform your sleep and support your hormones and performance.
The reality is, everything comes down to how you feel when you drink. A glass of red wine a couple of evenings a week may be one of the ways that you like to indulge and incorporate self care into your week and therefore is it worth going with out if it means your self care is taking a hit. After all, its understood that drinking in moderation is unlikely to impact your cycle. Moderation is defined by NHS England as 14 units a week, consumed across the week.
If alcohol makes you feel anxious, and gives you all of the feels then its a whole different ball game!
